Loader coupler with adjustable dump and roll-back stops

ABSTRACT

A loader coupler includes first and second dump stops located on opposite lateral sides of the coupler and first and second roll-back stops located on opposite lateral sides of the coupler. Each of the dump and roll-back stops includes a base connected to or formed as a part of the coupler; at least one shim located adjacent the base; and, a cover releasably connected to the base and located adjacent the at least one shim. Accordingly, the at least one shim is located between the cover and the base. The outer face of the cover can be angled to ensure flush contact between it and an associated arm of a loader to which the coupler is connected. The adjustable stops are used by locating at least one shim adjacent the base and securing the a cover to the base member and adjacent the shim, with the shim located between the cover and the base member. Thereafter, it is determined if the cover contacts the associated loader arm in a desired stop position. If the cover does not contact the associated loader arm in the desired stop position, the position of the cover relative to the base is adjusted by changing the number of shims located between the cover and the base and/or changing the thickness of the shim. An angle of contact between an outer face of the cover and the associated loader arm can also be adjusted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and hereby expressly incorporatesby reference U.S. provisional application No. 60/242,635 filed Oct. 23,2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the art of heavy machineryand, more particularly, to the art of couplers for loader buckets andthe like as used on wheel loaders, tractor loader backhoes and the like.Examples of such couplers are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,708,579, 5,529,419 and 5,692,850, the disclosures of which arehereby expressly incorporated by reference.

It is known to equip couplers for loader buckets and the like with stopsthat engage the arms or other fixed portion of the associated machineryto prevent further pivoting movement of the coupler and, thus, thebucket connected thereto relative to the arms or other fixed structure.For example, couplers for loader buckets typically include a pair ofdump stops located on opposite lateral sides of the coupler and adaptedto engage the loader arms and prevent pivoting movement of the bucket ina first direction beyond a predefined dump position. Likewise, thesecouplers include a pair of roll-back stops located on opposite lateralsides of the coupler and adapted to engage to loader arms and preventpivoting movement of the bucket in an opposite, second direction beyonda predefined roll-back position. These stops are fixedly secured to thecoupler body by welding and are not adjustable.

These prior, fixed stops are deficient in many respects. First, due tomanufacturing tolerances and tolerance build-up, oftentimes the stops donot engage the loader arms as desired. Secondly, while the stops mayperform perfectly on a first loader or other apparatus carrying thecoupler, the stops may not be properly positioned for a different loaderor other apparatus. Thus, a need has been identified for a couplerincluding adjustable dump and roll-back stops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a loadercoupler comprises first and second dump stops located on oppositelateral sides of the coupler, and first and second roll-back stopslocated on opposite lateral sides of the coupler. Each of the dump androll-back stops comprises a base, at least one shim located adjacent thebase, and a cover releasably connected to the base and located adjacentthe at least one shim, whereby said at least one shim is located betweensaid cover and said base. In one embodiment, the outer face of the coveris angled to provide flush contact between it and an associated arm of aloader to which the coupler is connected.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, anadjustable stop assembly for an associated loader coupler includes abase connected to the associated loader coupler and a cover releasablyconnected to the base. At least one shim is located between the base andthe cover. An outer face of the cover is arranged at an angle relativeto an inner face to ensure flush contact of the cover with an associatedarm or other portion of the loader carrying the associated coupler.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method ofproviding an adjustable stop for a loader coupler includes locating atleast one shim adjacent a base member connected to said coupler andsecuring a cover to the base member and adjacent the at least one shimwith the at least one shim located between the cover and the basemember. Thereafter, it is determined if the cover contacts an associatedarm of an associated loader in a desired stop position. If the coverdoes not contact the associated arm of the associated loader in thedesired stop position, the position of the said over relative to thebase is adjusted by changing the number of shims located between thecover and the base and/or changing the thickness of the at least oneshim. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, an angle ofcontact between an outer face of the cover and the associated arm of theassociated loader is adjusted.

Numerous benefits and advantages of the present invention will occur tothose of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains uponreading this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention comprises a variety of components and arrangements ofcomponents, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings that form a part of this specification andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a loader coupler with adjustabledump and roll-back stops formed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the loader coupler of FIG. 1 astaken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a roll-back stop formed in accordance withthe present invention as taken along line A—A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 showing a dump stop formed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of adump stop shim formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of adump stop cover formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of a roll-back stop base formed in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a plan view of a roll-back stop shim formed in accordancewith the present invention; and,

FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan and side elevational views, respectively, of aroll-back stop cover formed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a loader coupler 10 that is conventional in allrespects except that it is equipped with adjustable dump stops 100 andadjustable roll-back stops 200 formed in accordance with the presentinvention. The dump stops 100 are located on a rear face or portion 12(the face oriented toward the loader or other associated machinecarrying the coupler 10) of the coupler 10 on opposite lateral sides14,16 thereof. Likewise, the roll-back stops 200 are located on a rearface of the coupler 10 on its opposite lateral sides. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that the dump and roll-back stops arelocated in positions that correspond to the location of conventionaldump and roll-back stops, respectively. For simplicity and ease ofunderstanding the invention, only one dump stop 100 and one roll-backstop 200 (those located on the second lateral side 16 of the coupler 10)are described in detail below. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the dump and roll-back stops located on the oppositelateral side 14 of the coupler 10 are identical or substantiallyidentical. Also, unless otherwise specified, the components of thecoupler 10 and stops 100,200 are defined from steel or another suitabledurable metal or alloy.

With reference to FIG. 4, the dump stop 100 comprises a dump stop base110 that is welded to or otherwise integral with or defined as aone-piece construction with the coupler 10 or a base plate thereof andthat defines at least one threaded bore 112 (only one shown in FIG. 1).One or more shims 120 of varying desired thickness are operativelypositioned adjacent the dump stop base 110. A shim 120 formed inaccordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Theshim 120 defines a thickness T1 and first and second through-bores 122(not threaded) that are located so that, when the shim 120 isoperatively placed adjacent the dump stop base 110, the bores 122 areregistered or aligned with the threaded bores 112 defined in the dumpstop base 110. A dump stop cover 130 is placed adjacent the shim(s) 120as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The cover 130, shown separately in FIGS.6A and 6B defines at least one and, as shown herein, first and secondbores 133 and counterbores 132 that are located so that they are alignedor registered with the bores 122 of the shim(s) 120 and the bores 112 ofthe dump stop base 110 when the cover 130 is operably positionedadjacent the shim(s) 120. Bolts or other suitable fasteners 140 areinserted into through the bores 133,122, and threaded into the bores 112of the dump stop base 110 to secure the shim(s) 120 and the dump stopcover 130 fixedly and operatively to the dump stop base 110. Owing tothe presence of the counterbores 132, the heads of the bolts 140 arerecessed into the cover 130.

With reference now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the dump stop cover 130 defines aplanar inner face 134 adapted to lie adjacent a shim 120. An opposite,outer face 136 of the dump stop cover is also preferably planar, and isarranged parallel to the inner face 134 (FIG. 4) or angled relativethereto as shown in FIG. 6B by an angle α that is at least 2°, and canvary between 2° and 8° or otherwise as desired. Those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that, by altering the angle α, flush contactbetween the outer face 136 and an associated arm or other component of aloader or the like can be ensured. Also, the counterbore 132 ensuresthat heads of the bolts 140 are countersunk into the cover 130 and donot project outwardly beyond the surface 136. The number and/orthickness of the one or more shims 120 controls the distance between theouter surface 136 and the dump stop base 110 to provide an adjustablestop position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a roll-back stop 200 formed inaccordance with the present invention comprises a roll-back stop base210 that is welded to or otherwise integral with the coupler 10 or acomponent thereof. As shown in both FIGS. 3 and 7A, the roll-back stopbase 210 defines threaded bores 212. One or more shims 220 (see alsoFIG. 7B) are placed adjacent the roll-back stop base 210. The shim(s)220 defines through-bores 222 (not threaded) that are located so thatthey are aligned or registered with the bores 212 defined in theroll-back stop base 210 when the shim(s) 220 is operatively positionedadjacent the base 210. A roll-back stop cover 230 is placed adjacent theshim(s) 220. The cover 230, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B defines at leastone and, as shown herein, first and second through-bores 233 andassociated counterbores 232 that are located so that they are aligned orregistered with the bores 222 of the shim(s) 220 and the bores 212 ofthe roll-back stop base 210 when the cover 230 is operably positionedadjacent the shim(s) 220. Bolts or other suitable fasteners 240 areinserted into through the bores 232,222, and threaded into the bores 212of the roll-back stop base 210 to secure the shim(s) 220 and the dumpstop cover 230 fixedly and operatively to the dump stop base 210.

With reference now particularly to FIG. 8B, the roll-back stop cover 230defines a planar inner face 234 adapted to lie adjacent a shim 220. Anopposite, outer face 236 of the roll-back stop cover 230 is also planar,and is arranged parallel to the inner face 234 (FIG. 3) or angledrelative thereto as shown in FIG. 8B by an angle β that is at least 2°,and can vary between 2° and 8° or otherwise as desired. Those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that, by altering the angle β,flush contact between the outer face 236 and an associated arm or othercomponent of a loader or the like can be ensured. Also, the counterbore232 ensures that heads of the bolts 240 are countersunk into the cover230 and do not project outwardly beyond the surface 236. The numberand/or thickness of the one or more shims 220 controls the distancebetween the outer surface 236 and the rollback stop base 210 to providean adjustable stop position.

The invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments. Of course, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon a reading and understanding of the preceding specification.It is intended that the invention be construed as including all suchmodifications and alterations.

1. A loader coupler comprising: first and second dump stops located onopposite lateral sides of the coupler, and first and second roll-backstops located on opposite lateral sides of the coupler, each of saiddump and roll-back stops comprising: a base; at least one shim locatedadjacent the base; and, a cover releasably connected to the base,wherein said at least one shim is located between said cover and saidbase.
 2. The loader coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coverdefines at least one through-bore and mating counterbore and isreleasably secured to said base by a fastener that extends through saidat least one through-bore and counterbore, wherein a head of saidfastener is located in said counterbore and recessed relative to anouter face of said cover.
 3. The loader coupler as set forth in claim 1,wherein said cover includes an inner face in contact with said at leastone shim and an outer face disposed opposite said inner face and adaptedfor contacting an associated arm of an associated loader apparatus, andwherein said inner and outer faces of said cover are parallel to eachother.
 4. The loader coupler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coverincludes a planar inner face in contact with said at least one shim anda planar outer face disposed opposite said planar inner face and adaptedfor contacting an associated arm of an associated loader apparatus, andwherein said outer face is arranged at an angle relative to said innerface such that said outer face is not parallel to said inner face. 5.The loader coupler as set forth in claim 4, wherein said angle is atleast 2 degrees.
 6. The loader coupler as set forth in claim 4, whereinsaid angle is between 2 and 8 degrees, inclusive.
 7. The loader couplerof claim 1, wherein each of said dump and roll-back stops provide anadjustable stop position.
 8. The loader coupler of claim 7, wherein atleast one of said dump stops and roll-back stop comprises multiple shimslocked between said cover and said base.
 9. The loader coupler of claim8, wherein said multiple shims are varying thickness relative to eachother.
 10. A loader coupler comprising: first and second dump stopslocated on opposite lateral sides of the coupler, and first and secondroll-back stops located on opposite lateral sides of the coupler, eachof said dump and roll-back stops comprising: a base, a cover releasablyconnected to said base, and one or more shims disposed between saidcover and said base, wherein each of said one or more shims define athickness, said cover includes an inner face and an outer face orientedopposite said inner face, and each of said dump and roll-back stopsprovides an adjustable stop position when said cover contacts anassociated arm of an associated loader.
 11. The loader coupler of claim10, wherein said stop positions are adjusted by at least one of changinga number of shims disposed between said cover and said base and changingsaid thickness of at least one of said one or more shims.
 12. The loadercoupler of claim 11, wherein said outer face of said cover is eitherparallel to said inner face or angled relative to said inner face by anangle of at least 2°, and said stop positions are further adjusted bychanging the angle of said outer face of said cover relative to saidinner face.
 13. The loader coupler of claim 10, wherein said outer faceof said cover is either parallel to said inner face or angled relativeto said inner face by an angle of at least 2 degrees.
 14. The loadercoupler of claim 13, wherein said stop positions are adjusted bychanging the angle of said outer face relative to the inner face.
 15. Aloader coupler comprising: at least one stop connected to the coupler,said stop comprising: a base, a cover, and one or more shims disposedbetween said base and said cover, wherein said cover is releasablyconnected to said base by at least one fastening means, said fasteningmeans extending through aligned bores defined respectively in said coverand said one or more shims and into bores defined in said base.
 16. Theloader coupler of claim 15, wherein each of said bores defined in saidcover includes a corresponding counterbore and further wherein a head ofeach of at least one fastening means is located in said counterbore andrecessed relative to an outer face of said cover.
 17. The loader couplerof claim 15, wherein at least a portion of each of said bores defined insaid base is threaded.
 18. The loader coupler of claim 15, wherein saidcover is relatively connected to said base by threading at least one ofsaid at least one fastening means into said base.
 19. The loader couplerof claim 15, wherein said cover includes an inner face in contact withone of said one or more shims and an outer face oriented opposite saidinner face, said outer face arranged either parallel to said inner faceor at an angle relative to said inner face.
 20. The loader coupler ofclaim 17, wherein said outer face is arranged at an angle of at least 2degrees relative to said inner face.